Courses of Study

Sections

An interdepartmental program in Business

Last updated: July 11, 2016 at 10:38 a.m.

Objectives

Louis Brandeis was among the first to define business as a profession worthy of pursuit. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he practiced commercial law. He was fascinated both by the way business worked and the impact it had on society. While the business world of his day differed in many respects from that of our own, many of his insights still have the ability to open up new perspectives and stimulate debate.

At Brandeis, we believe that a business education consists of much more than the acquisition of a set of practical skills. We emphasize critical thinking, broad perspective, and multicultural understanding. In this way, we hope to prepare students to be responsible and thoughtful citizens in the business world of tomorrow.

The business program introduces undergraduates to the functions, opportunities, and challenges of business enterprises, and helps the students to acquire skills and perspectives essential to a business career. Administered by the Brandeis International Business School (IBS) and the College of Arts and Sciences, the curriculum allows students to combine ideas and methods from liberal arts disciplines with an intensive education in business thinking and practice. The curriculum offers multiple paths for students to develop connections between their business studies and the "non-financial" measures of success they value – from concerns with global society and sustainability to innovation in science and art.

Students in the business program participate in IBS life. IBS professors teach undergraduate business courses, and students in the program regularly attend events and talks at the graduate school.

Undergraduates have two choices to earn a master’s degree at an accelerated pace.

The BA/MA curriculum targets financial and economic skills needed to understand the global economy and operations of international capital markets. Students would enroll in the graduate school in their fourth year at Brandeis and receive the master’s in international finance and economics in their fifth year.

The BA/MBA dual degree program allows Brandeis graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to complete the IBS MBA at an accelerated pace, and without a break in their studies.

Learning Goals

The five learning goals of the major:

1. Fundamental Concepts: Students will understand the fundamental concepts of business.

2. Business Disciplines: Students will have knowledge of key paradigms in core business disciplines.

3. Analytical Skills: Students will possess the quantitative, analytical, and critical thinking skills to evaluate businesses and the environment in which they operate.

4. Communications Skills: Students will have competence in a range of essential business communications skills.

5. Ethical Awareness: Students will be aware of the ethical, societal, and environmental implications of business decisions.

LEARNING GOAL

CORRESPONDING BRANDEIS LEARNING GOAL

ABILITIES

COURSES IN WHICH WE MAY TEST GOALS

1. Fundamental Concepts: Students will understand the fundamental concepts of business.

KNOWLEDGE

a) Ability to use the language of business and management.
b) Ability to describe the structure of a business and its component parts.
c) Ability to describe the major factors influencing business formation and operations.

BUS 10a

2. Business Disciplines: Students will have knowledge of key paradigms in core business disciplines.

KNOWLEDGE

a) Knowledge of key principles in finance, organizational behavior, and marketing.
b) Ability to apply appropriate frameworks to problem-­‐ solving in those areas.

BUS 71a
BUS 120a
BUS 152a
BUS 172a

3. Analytical Skills: Students will possess the quantitative, analytical, and critical thinking skills to evaluate businesses and the environment in which they operate.

CORE SKILLS

a) Ability to prepare and interpret basic financial statements.
b) Ability to use analytical techniques to assess the financial well-­‐being of a business.
c) Ability to use business school case studies to understand a management or industry issue.

BUS 1b
BUS 6a
BUS 10a
BUS 71a
BUS 152a
BUS 172a

4. Communications Skills: Students will have competence in a range of essential business communications skills.

CORE SKILLS

a) Ability to give a persuasive business presentation.
b) Ability to write a convincing business memo.
c) Ability to effectively advocate an idea.

BUS 1b
BUS 10a
BUS 120a
BUS 152a
BUS 172a

5. Ethical Awareness: Students will be aware of the ethical, societal, and environmental implications of business decisions.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

a) Ability to identify the ethical, societal, or environmental aspects of a business situation.
b) Ability to evaluate these factors when making business decisions.

BUS 6a
BUS 10a
BUS 71a
BUS 120a
BUS 152a
BUS 172a

How to Become a Major or Minor

Students may apply for the major once they have completed (a) three full semesters of college study and (b) ECON 2a or ECON 10a; BUS 6a; and BUS 10a; all with grades of C or better. There is a formal application process and students are not guaranteed admission into the program. The minor welcomes all students who wish to augment their liberal arts education with a brief but sophisticated overview of business issues. Students interested in learning about the major or minor should first consult the Business website. To declare the minor, students must have completed or currently be enrolled in BUS 10a. Student will then need to meet with the program administrator to complete the minor declaration form. To learn more about the major, they should make an appointment with the Undergraduate Advising Head.

D. One additional course: any Business & Society elective (including ECON courses) or Business Administration elective.

E. No course, except as noted, with a final grade below C, and no course taken pass/fail, can count toward fulfilling the requirements for the minor in business. The exception is that C- is the minimum grade for Business and Society courses.

Requirements for the Major

A. ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

B. BUS 1b. May be exempted by the following quantitative courses: BIOL 51a, ECON 83a, MATH 8a, or PSYC 51a or an appropriate score in AP Statistics.

C. BUS 6a, BUS 10a, BUS 71a, BUS 120a, BUS 152a, and BUS 172a.

D. Two "Business and Society" electives, and two "Business Administration" electives.

No course, except as noted, with a final grade below C, and no course taken pass/fail, can count toward fulfilling the requirements for the major in Business. The exception is that C- is the minimum grade for Business and Society courses.

Students undertaking the economics major and the business major are subject to additional restrictions. Business majors may double count no more than two courses for the Economics major. Excluded in this calculation are: ECON 2a or ECON 10a, ECON 83a to exempt from BUS 1b, and ECON 171a in place of BUS 71a. Please note that ECON 171a cannot be counted twice (i.e., in place of BUS 71a and as a "Business Administration" elective). PSYC 150b, which has several prerequisites, may be taken in place of BUS 120a.

For Business and Economics double majors, BUS 10a (required for the Business major) will count as a lower level elective for Economics and ECON 20a (required for the Economics major) will count as a Business and Society elective for Business. As a result, no further "double-counts" are allowed for the Business major, except as noted in the requirements for the Business Major.

Specialization is achieved by taking three courses on one of the eight designated themes (see III.A and III.B). This specialization does not appear on the transcript, but may be reported in a resume.

Honors Program: Qualified seniors are invited to participate in the business honors program, which involves completing a project under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Candidates for honors must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.666 in their BUS courses (excluding BUS 89a and BUS 98a) and be on track to complete at least 20 credits of BUS courses (excluding BUS 89a and BUS 98a) by the end of the first semester of their senior year. If accepted to the program, students enroll in BUS 99a and BUS 99b and receive course credit for their completed work, however, this will not count towards the requirements for the major. For more information, see the program website.

Special Notes Relating to Majors and Minors

Upon prior approval of the Undergraduate Advising Head, more advanced BUS or FIN courses in the International Business School or courses taken during a Brandeis-approved study abroad may be used as substitutes for BUS courses in the program. Students who are studying abroad will not be permitted to take substitutes for BUS 6a, BUS 10a, BUS 120a, BUS 152a, and BUS 172a. The same rule applies for summer study at another university, with the exception of BUS 6a, which may be considered if taught in the United States to US GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles). Any exemption to the previously listed rules requires approval by petition. See the program administrator or the Undergraduate Advising Head.

Transfer students may apply to the Undergraduate Advising Head for courses taught elsewhere to fulfill the requirements for the major or minor, with the provision that at Brandeis they must take BUS 10a (unless waived by the Undergraduate Advising Head) and a minimum of four other full semester BUS courses for the major, or two other full semester BUS courses for the minor. In addition, for both the major and minor, transfer students must take at least one course at Brandeis in Section III.A Business and Society.

BUS 89a or BUS 98a do not provide credit towards the business major or minor, but it is a four-credit course that counts as one of a student’s thirty-two courses.

Students interested in taking a BUS internship for credit should consult the description and enrollment information for BUS 89a (below) or the Business website for more information. Most BUS 89a students do their internships in the same semester they enroll for the classes, but internships can also be done during a prior academic semester or summer. Priority will be given to Business and Economics majors. Consideration will also be given to Business minors who intend to apply for the Business major. All other students should register for INT 89b (or 89a courses offered by other majors). Searching the university’s main website for "internships" will lead to information on availability of courses, guidelines, and requirements.

THEMATIC ELECTIVES IN BUSINESS AND SOCIETY (III.A)

Communications, Commerce, and Culture Courses
AMST 103b Advertising and the Media
AMST 190a Money, Markets and Morals in American Culture
ANTH 26a Communication and Media
ANTH 70a Business, Culture and Society
ANTH 163b Production, Consumption, and Exchange
ANTH 165a The Amazon Forest: Challenges, Opportunities, and Paradoxes
CHIN 106b Business Chinese and Culture
CLAS 121b Money, Markets, and Society in the Ancient Mediterranean
CLAS 149b Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Global Trade in the Ancient Mediterranean
COSI 133b Internet & Society
ECON/FA 87a Economics and the Arts
ENG 188b Capitalism and Culture
HIST 108b The Corporation in American History
NEJS 157a Jewish Business Ethics
PHIL 13b Idea of the Market: Economic Policies
PHIL 25a Business Ethics
PSYC 34b Social Psychology
SOC 120b Globalization and the Media
SOC 150b Culture of Consumption
THA 138a The Business of Show Business
THA 138aj The Business of Show Business
WMGS 152a Women as Leaders in the Business Realm

Law and Government Courses
AAAS 126b Political Economy of the Third World
AMST 188b Louis Brandeis: Law, Business & Politics
AMST 189a Legal Foundations of American Capitalism
ECON 20a Introduction to Macroeconomics
HIST 160b American Legal History II
LGLS 114a American Health Care: Law and Policy
LGLS 114aj American Health Care: Law and Policy
LGLS 127b International Economic Law
LGLS 138b Science on Trial
POL 172b Introduction to International Political Economy
SOC 123b The Welfare State and Nonprofit America

Courses of Instruction

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

BUS
1b
Quantitative Methods in Business
Does not fulfill the School of Social Science requirement. Yields half-course credit.Introduction to statistical thinking and fundamental analytical methods to students with little or no prior statistics training. Surveys basic statistical methods used to enable critical analysis of data to inform business decisions, accomplished through the use of Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Fournier and Mr. Rai

BUS
6a
Financial Accounting
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.Develops basic concepts and accounts and applies them to income measurement, capital values, and costs. Through the use of cases, develops the basis for rational choice and control of business activity. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.Mr. Angell, Ms Stoller and Ms. Weihs

BUS
10a
Functions of the Capitalist Enterprise
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 6a. BUS 6a may be taken concurrently with BUS 10a.Introduces the internal complexity of modern businesses and the various roles they play in society. First examines the internal workings of firms--marketing, operations, finance, and other functions. Subsequently, the relationships between businesses and their context--the economy, social issues, and government are studied. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.Mr. Abdurezak, Mr. Bayone and Mr. Carver

BUS
71a
Introduction to Finance
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 6a. Corequisite: BUS 1b. This course cannot be counted as an elective toward the Economics major or minor.Introduces students to topics and methods in the field of finance. Covers how firms secure financing via equity and debt markets, valuation of stocks and bonds, fundamental analysis techniques, capital budgeting techniques, relationship of risk and return, and the time-value-of-money. Usually offered every semester.Mr. McKay

BUS
89a
Work in the Global Business Environment: Internship and Seminar
Does not meet the requirements for the major or minor in Business.Normally students arrange an internship placement prior to registration and the internship is concurrent with the seminar. Students wishing to fulfill the internship component during the summer must obtain approval from the instructor prior to the internship and then enroll in the following fall (or spring) semester. The course will meet every other week and a structured journal documenting the internship experience is required as a basis for seminar participation. The course encourages students to pool experiences and lessons drawn from various business environments and to analyze and discuss them in the context of related readings. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Suderow

BUS
98a
Independent Study
Does not meet the requirements for the major or minor in Business.Normally available for a student who has taken a course and wishes to pursue further reading or research in that field or study a subject not listed among the department course offerings. Usually offered every year.Staff

BUS
98b
Independent Study
Signature of the instructor required.Normally available for a student who has taken a course and wishes to pursue further reading or research in that field or study a subject not listed among the department course offerings. Usually offered every year.Staff

BUS
99a
Senior Research
Independent research and writing under faculty direction for the purpose of a senior Business honors project. Usually offered every fall.Staff

BUS
99b
Senior Project
Completion and submission of a senior Business honors project. Usually offered every spring.Staff

BUS
114a
Managerial Accounting
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Prerequisite: BUS 6a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 14a in prior years.Introduction to the principles, concepts, and methods of managerial accounting, including internal reporting used in planning, control, and decision making. Learn how organizations use this information to measure and control resources used in producing goods and providing services. Usually offered every year.Ms. Weihs

BUS
120a
Organizational Behavior in Business
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have taken PSYC 150b. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 20a in prior years.Covers the fundamentals of organizational behavior, including topics like leadership, work motivation, organizational culture, organizational structure, group dynamics, perception, and decision-making in a global environment. Assignments include individual and group project analyses focused on topical business issues using course concepts. Usually offered every semester.Ms. Cha and Mr. Molinsky

BUS
130a
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 30a in prior years.Explores why, when, and how to start a new business venture. Includes identifying opportunities, gaining access to resources, and assembling a team with key skills. Uses lectures, case discussions, and outside speakers to introduce issues in both theory and practice. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Reed

BUS
135a
Real Estate and Society
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 35a in prior years.Provides students with the fundamentals of real estate investment analysis and examines major trends and current issues: affordable housing; preservations, conservation, and environmentalism; green construction; new urbanism and smart growth; and the meltdown in the capital markets. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Harrity and Ms. Stoller

BUS
137a
Real Estate Finance
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Examines real estate finance from the perspective of the users of capital (developers and property owners) and the sources of capital (lenders and equity investors). Also considers the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes by offering various kinds of subsidies to developers, and evaluating the relative success of such programs. Usually offered every third year.Staff

BUS
137aj
Real Estate Finance
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Examines real estate finance from the perspective of the users of capital (developers and property owners) and the sources of capital (lenders and equity investors). Also considers the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes by offering various kinds of subsidies to developers, and evaluating the relative success of such programs. Offered as part of JBS program.Staff

BUS
138a
Real Estate Development
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Focuses on the real estate development process, including zoning and planning, permitting, site analysis and acquisition, design and construction, financing, leasing, and value enhancement. Also considers the role of the community and regulators in supporting or objecting to a real estate project; and, the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes. Usually offered every third year.Staff

BUS
138aj
Real Estate Development
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Focuses on the real estate development process, including zoning and planning, permitting, site analysis and acquisition, design and construction, financing, leasing, and value enhancement. Also considers the role of the community and regulators in supporting or objecting to a real estate project; and, the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes. Offered as part of JBS program.Staff

BUS
152a
Marketing Management
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. Corequisite: BUS 1b. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 52a in prior years.An introduction to key concepts in competitive strategy and marketing, which are used to help firms create, sustain, and capture value. Topics include industry analysis, competitive advantage, market identification, and marketing policies. Incorporates case studies, discussion method, team projects, and business research. Usually offered every semester.Ms. Thomas and Ms. Zimmerman

BUS
153a
Marketing Research
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 152a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 53a in prior years.Marketing research is critical to business success in today's information economy. We will learn quantitative marketing research models and techniques for analyzing consumer behavior and marketing information. Topics include marketing segmentation, targeted promotion strategies, brand positioning, new produce design, and customer profitability. Usually offered every year.Ms. Ebert

BUS
154aj
Branding Strategy
[
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]
Prerequisite: BUS 152a. Learn about the strategies marketers use to build and sustain brands that consumers truly value. Some of the brands we’ll cover include: Lady Gaga, IKEA, Pokémon and Vans. You will also compete in online, team-based marketing simulation game to give you the feel of a real-world branding experience. Offered as part of JBS program.Ms. Zimmerman

BUS
155a
Consumer Behavior
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 152a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 55a in prior years.Examines fundamental theories and concepts in consumer psychology. Learn about new findings to enhance understanding of how and why people choose, use and evaluate goods and services the way they do. This knowledge will come from lectures, readings, and discussions in class, but also from hands-on experiential learning through involvement in a semester-long group project. Usually offered every year.Ms. Ebert

BUS
160a
Competitive Strategy
[
ss
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Prerequisite: BUS 10a. BUS 152a is recommended.Allows students to examine the challenges and opportunities of doing business globally using a few simple frameworks developed at Harvard Business School. Students will use such frameworks to think about the design and execution of successful strategies, in the US market, in emerging markets, in entrepreneurial firms and in social platforms. Usually offered every year.Mr. Musacchio

BUS
170a
Business in the Global Economy
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 70a in prior years.Modern firms frequently cross national borders to find new markets and resources. Their strategies are then shaped by the international economy and by the policies of national governments. Using case discussion, students explore why and how U.S., Japanese, and European firms operate outside their home countries. Usually offered every second year.Staff

BUS
172a
Operations Management
[
ss
]
Prerequisites: BUS 10a. Corequisite: BUS 1b.Operations Management is the scientific study and optimization of the processes that organizations use to create the products/services purchased by their customers. Topics include process analysis, the impact of variability on process performance, quality management (lean production and six sigma), project management, inventory management, supply chain coordination, revenue management and operations strategy. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Strauss

BUS
174a
Supply Chain Management
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 172a.Explores how to optimize supply chain processes to achieve a company's strategic goals. Students will understand the basic activities in an organization's supply chain, such as planning, the selection of suppliers, negotiations and coordination with suppliers, production and inventory decisions, and logistics. This course uses analytical tools and conceptual frameworks to make effective decisions about supply chains. Usually offered every second year.Staff

BUS
195a
Field Projects in Business
[
ss
]
Provides students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge to solving actual client problems, assessing client challenges and opportunities and generally adding value to the client's operations. The course culminates in a final client presentation before the semester ends. The instructor will serve as project manager for all projects. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Zimmerman

BUS
195aj
Field Projects
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 152a. Enhance your resume with real, hands-on marketing experience. Spend four weeks applying your marketing skills and knowledge to solving actual client problems in a team-based consulting project for a local company. These high quality marketing projects, sourced and mentored by the professor, serve a variety of companies, from marketing agencies to Fortune 500 and start-up companies. Projects culminate in client presentations. Offered as part of JBS program.Ms. Zimmerman

Core Courses

BUS
1b
Quantitative Methods in Business
Does not fulfill the School of Social Science requirement. Yields half-course credit.Introduction to statistical thinking and fundamental analytical methods to students with little or no prior statistics training. Surveys basic statistical methods used to enable critical analysis of data to inform business decisions, accomplished through the use of Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Fournier and Mr. Rai

BUS
6a
Financial Accounting
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.Develops basic concepts and accounts and applies them to income measurement, capital values, and costs. Through the use of cases, develops the basis for rational choice and control of business activity. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.Mr. Angell, Ms Stoller and Ms. Weihs

BUS
10a
Functions of the Capitalist Enterprise
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 6a. BUS 6a may be taken concurrently with BUS 10a.Introduces the internal complexity of modern businesses and the various roles they play in society. First examines the internal workings of firms--marketing, operations, finance, and other functions. Subsequently, the relationships between businesses and their context--the economy, social issues, and government are studied. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.Mr. Abdurezak, Mr. Bayone and Mr. Carver

BUS
71a
Introduction to Finance
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 6a. Corequisite: BUS 1b. This course cannot be counted as an elective toward the Economics major or minor.Introduces students to topics and methods in the field of finance. Covers how firms secure financing via equity and debt markets, valuation of stocks and bonds, fundamental analysis techniques, capital budgeting techniques, relationship of risk and return, and the time-value-of-money. Usually offered every semester.Mr. McKay

BUS
120a
Organizational Behavior in Business
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have taken PSYC 150b. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 20a in prior years.Covers the fundamentals of organizational behavior, including topics like leadership, work motivation, organizational culture, organizational structure, group dynamics, perception, and decision-making in a global environment. Assignments include individual and group project analyses focused on topical business issues using course concepts. Usually offered every semester.Ms. Cha and Mr. Molinsky

BUS
152a
Marketing Management
[
ss
]
Prerequisite: BUS 10a. Corequisite: BUS 1b. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 52a in prior years.An introduction to key concepts in competitive strategy and marketing, which are used to help firms create, sustain, and capture value. Topics include industry analysis, competitive advantage, market identification, and marketing policies. Incorporates case studies, discussion method, team projects, and business research. Usually offered every semester.Ms. Thomas and Ms. Zimmerman

ECON
2a
A Survey of Economics
[
qr
ss
]
Intended for students who are not Economics majors or minors. May not be taken for credit by students who took ECON 10a in prior years.Introduces economic analysis with policy applications. The economist's approach to social analysis is systematically elaborated. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Coiner

ECON
10a
Introduction to Microeconomics
[
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ss
]
Intended for Economics majors and minors or students who intend to take more than one Economics course. Students who have taken Econ 2a and received a B+ or better cannot receive credit for this course. May not be taken for credit by students concurrently with or after they have taken ECON 80a.Introduces the field of microeconomics, which is the study of how individuals and firms make decisions and how these decisions interact. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Coiner

Elective Courses in Business and Society

AAAS
126b
Political Economy of the Third World
[
nw
ss
wi
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Development of capitalism and different roles and functions assigned to all "Third Worlds," in the periphery as well as the center. Special attention will be paid to African and Afro-American peripheries. Usually offered every year.Mr. Nyangoni

AMST
103b
Advertising and the Media
[
ss
]
Combines a historical and contemporary analysis of advertising's role in developing and sustaining consumer culture in America with a practical analysis of the relationship between advertising and the news media in the United States. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Farrelly

AMST
188b
Louis Brandeis: Law, Business and Politics
[
ss
]
Brandeis's legal career serves as model and guide for exploring the ideals and anxieties of American legal culture throughout the twentieth century. Focuses on how legal values evolve in response to new technologies, corporate capitalism, and threats to personal liberty. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Breen

AMST
190a
Money, Markets and Morals in American Culture
[
ss
]
How have Americans expected businessess and people in business to behave? This course examines the ambivalences and complexities from the 17th century to the present, using case studies drawn from history, literature and social commentary. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Terris

ANTH
26a
Communication and Media
[
ss
]
An exploration of human communication and mass media from a cross-cultural perspective. Examines communication codes based on language and visual signs. The global impact of revolutions in media technology, including theories of cultural imperialism and indigenous uses of media is discussed. Usually offered every second year.Ms. McIntosh

ANTH
70a
Business, Culture and Society
[
ss
]
In a diverse and rapidly changing global marketplace, it is crucial to understand local traditions, customs and cultural preferences. In this course, we adopt anthropological approaches to understand their impact on business practices, products, services, clients and ideas. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Ferry or Mr. Souleles

ANTH
163b
Production, Consumption, and Exchange
[
nw
ss
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Prerequisite: ANTH 1a, ECON 2a, ECON 10a, or permission of the instructor.We read in newspapers and books and hear in everyday discussion about "the economy," an identifiably separate sphere of human life with its own rules and principles and its own scholarly discipline (economics). The class starts with the premise that this "common sense" idea of the economy is only one among a number of possible perspectives on the ways people use resources to meet their basic and not-so-basic human needs. In the course, we draw on cross-cultural examples, and take a look at the cultural aspects of finance, corporations, and markets. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Ferry

CHIN
106b
Business Chinese and Culture
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Prerequisite: CHIN 40b or equivalent.An advanced Chinese course where students develop their language proficiency and cultural knowledge in professional settings such as the workplace. The course is conducted entirely in Chinese and is designed for students who want to sharpen their language skills and reach a higher level of proficiency in which they are able to read newspapers, magazines, or professional documents, as well as to improve their communicative ability and enhance their self-confidence in Chinese workplaces. Usually offered every second spring.Staff

CLAS
121b
Money, Markets and Society in the Ancient Mediterranean
[
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wi
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Examines the complex interactions between economic and social systems in the ancient Mediterranean, especially Greece and Rome, through literature, documents, and artifacts. Readings in English. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Walker

CLAS
149b
Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Global Trade in the Ancient Mediterranean
[
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wi
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Investigates the development of commodity production and global exchange in the ancient Mediterranean. Approached from multiple disciplinary perspectives and through both global and local lenses, this course will study commodity consumption as a social, cultural and material process. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Koh

COSI
133b
Internet and Society
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Prerequisite: sophomore standing. An interdisciplinary survey of the Internet. Taught by a team of professors from several different departments, the course content will vary from year to year. Some particular topics to be covered are the architecture of the Internet (and the implications this has on its regulation), intellectual property, privacy, censorship, e-commerce, online education, and research. Usually offered every year.Mr. Hickey

ECON
20a
Introduction to Macroeconomics
[
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Prerequisite: Econ 2a with a B+ or higher or Econ 10a. May not be taken for credit by students concurrently with or after they have taken ECON 82b. Introduces the field of macroeconomics. Macroeconomics is the study of the overall or aggregate economic performance of national economies. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Coiner, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Redenius

ECON
57a
Environmental Economics
[
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a.Investigates the theoretical and policy problems posed by the use of renewable and nonrenewable resources. Theoretical topics include the optimal pricing of resources, the optimal use of standards and taxes to correct pollution problems under uncertainty, and the measurement of costs and benefits. Usually offered every year.Ms. Bui

ECON
76b
Labor Economics
[
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a.Analysis of competitive and less-than-competitive markets. Rationale for alternate methods of paying workers (e.g., hourly wages, piece rates, bonuses). Sources of wage differentials among jobs and workers. The U.S. labor movement, the process of collective bargaining, and the economic effects of unions. Effects of government interventions in the labor market, such as the minimum wage and occupational safety regulation. Extent and effects of discrimination in the labor market. Inequality in the distribution of wages. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Brainerd

ECON/FA
87a
Economics and the Arts
[
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a; FA 30a, 57a, 59a or 62a. The FA course may be taken concurrently with ECON/FA 87a.Economics and art history provide dual lenses for studying the mechanics of art auctions and building collections. The course will focus on the intersection of history and patronage of specific artists and works of art with the marketplace. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Graddy and Ms. Scott

ENG
188b
Capitalism and Culture
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What characterizes literary accounts of capitalism processes? How do authors from different periods or regions narrate the history of capitalism? What do they describe as the central conflicts between capitalism and other pre-, post-, or non-capitalist economic systems? Usually offered every third year.Ms. Irr

HIST
108b
The Corporation in American History
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Examines the evolving scope and influence of corporations across four centuries of American history. Topics range from industrialization to outsourcing and from small religious and municipal organizations to international conglomerates. Usually offered every second year.Staff

HIST
157a
Labor and Class Conflict in America, 1676-2012
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Despite the persistent ideal of a "classless" society, questions of class and the nature of labor have informed much of America’s history. Beginning in the colonial period, this course explores the idea that a job is never just a job; it is also a social signifier of great value. Topics include slavery and servitude, race and gender in the workplace, household labor and its meanings, working-class political movements, the role of the state in shaping patterns of work, and modern debates over economic inequality. Usually offered every fourth year.Staff

HIST
160b
American Legal History II
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Survey of American legal development from 1865 to the present. Major topics include constitutionalism and racial inequality, the legal response to industrialization, progressivism and the transformation of liberalism, the rise of the administrative state, and rights-based movements for social justice. Usually offered every year.Mr. Willrich

HS
104b
American Health Care
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Examines and critically analyzes the United States health care system, emphasizing the major trends and issues that have led to the current sense of "crisis." In addition to providing a historical perspective, this course will establish a context for analyzing the current, varied approaches to health care reform. Usually offered every year.Mr. Altman

HS
110a
Wealth and Poverty
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ss
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Examines why the gap between richer and poorer citizens appears to be widening in the United States and elsewhere, what could be done to reverse this trend, and how the widening disparity affects major issues of public policy. Usually offered every year.Mr. Shapiro

HSSP
104b
Health Economics
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a.Emphasizes the concepts and tools of health economics applicable to both developed and developing countries. Topics include: cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, the demand for health services, insurance and risk, managed care, provider reimbursement, national health insurance, and an overview of health care systems in other countries. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Hodgkin

HSSP
107b
Health Care Technology: Evaluating Emerging Medical Services, Drugs and Devices
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Prerequisite: HS 104b or permission of the instructor. Priority given to HSSP majors and minors.An overview of the role of medical technology in the U.S. health care system, with a focus on the impact of prescription drugs on the health care system, their promise for the future, and inherent risks. Usually offered every year.Ms. Thomas

LGLS
114a
American Health Care: Law and Policy
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Not recommended for freshmen.Focuses on individual rights, highlights how our laws and policies affect American health care. Traces the evolution of the doctor-patient relationship; explores access issues, including whether health care is or should be a fundamental right; assesses the quality of care and the impact of malpractice; and examines the cost of having (or not having) adequate health insurance. Concludes with options and prospects for meaningful reform. Usually offered every year.Ms. Curi

LGLS
114aj
American Health Care: Reform
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Five years after the historic passage of the ACA, the United States and our health care system is at a cross roads. While the ACA seems to have weathered most of the significant implementation challenges, even its most ardent supporters acknowledge that the law provides only a partial fix for our nation's health care system. While access should improve appreciably, particularly for those who are currently uninsured, many will still remain without access to needed care. Moreover, among advanced nations our costs are the highest by far and the quality of our care is no better than that found in these less costly nations. We will explore the ACA, the events leading up to its passage, the policies the law was designed to further, and its impacts so far. Offered as part of the JBS program.Ms. Noble

LGLS
127b
International Economic Law
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a or permission of the instructor.Studies the transnational legal institution and practices that constitute the global economic networks of the 21st century. Surveys the fields of corporate regulation, including business practices and human rights, and legal regimes supporting trade and finance. Practice in arbitrating investment disputes between states and corporations. Usually offered every second year.Staff

LGLS
138b
Science on Trial
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Surveys the procedures and analytic methods by which scientific data enter into litigation and regulation/policy making. Introduces basic tools of risk analysis and legal rules of evidence. Case studies of tobacco litigation and regulation; use of DNA and other forensic evidence in the criminal justice system; the Woburn ground-water contamination case; and other topics to be selected, such as genetics in the courtroom, court-ordered Cesarean sections, polygraph testing, alternative medicine, and genetically modified foods. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Breen

NEJS
157a
Jewish Business Ethics
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How can we think through the moral question of business and economic life? What might Jewish texts and historical experience have to teach us here? How do we think critically and constructively about business and Judaic sources alike, while trying to lead moral lives? All this is explored through readings, examples, and lively discussion. Usually offered every third year.Mr. Mirsky

PHIL
13b
The Idea of the Market: Economic Philosophies
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Historical survey of philosophical assumptions in the defense and critique of market capitalism, starting from Adam Smith's views on value, self, and community. Explores philosophical alternatives in Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Dewey, and Hayek, including debates on justice and individualism. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Gaskins

PHIL
25a
Business Ethics
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Offers an introduction to ethical theory and ethical reasoning, as they relate to business issues in particular, especially questions about what ethical constraints (if any) should limit a company's pursuit of profit. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Sherman

POL
172b
Seminar: International Political Economy
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Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher.The politics and modern evolution of international economic relations, comprising trade, money, multinational productions, and development. Also the role of states and transnational actors in international markets and the global differentiation of power, and distribution of wealth. Usually offered every year.Mr. Chase

PSYC
34b
Social Psychology
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Prerequisite: PSYC 10a (formerly PSYC 1a).An introduction to theory and research on the psychological processes that relate the individual to the larger social world in terms of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Topics include attitudes, social perception, prejudice and discrimination, attraction, behavior in groups, and the role of culture. Usually offered every year.Ms. Gutsell

SOC
112b
Social Class and Social Change
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Presents the role of social class in determining life chances, lifestyles, income, occupation, and power; theories of class, inequality, and globalization; selected social psychological aspects of social class and inequality; and connections of class, race, and gender. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Fellman

SOC
116a
Work, Employment and Unemployment: Sociological Approaches
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Considers work, employment, and unemployment in the U.S. using a sociological framework. It offers a broad overview of the role work has played in society historically and currently, and the changing nature of work in the 21st century. Usually offered every year.Ms. Chaganti

SOC
117a
Sociology of Work and Gender
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Many people think gender differences in work are disappearing. Yet gender segregation by job type is pervasive and women predominate in the lower paid, lower status jobs, particularly in the care sector. Women are also still doing disproportional amounts of domestic and parenting labor at home, which exacts a great cost from them in the paid workforce. This course examines gender disparities in both paid an unpaid work, and how that affects women’s and men’s lives, work/family conflicts, and society at large. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Lucas

SOC
120b
Globalization and the Media
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Investigates the phenomenon of globalization as it relates to mass media. Topics addressed include the growth of transnational media organizations, the creation of audiences that transcend territorial groupings, the hybridization of cultural styles, and the consequences for local identities. Usually offered every second year.Ms. Miller

SOC
123b
The Welfare State and Nonprofit America
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Studies major programs of the welfare state in social security, health, and welfare, as well as local nonprofits in youth development and other human services, national foundations, social entrepreneurism, AmeriCorps, and other forms of community service. Usually offered every year.Mr. Sirianni

SOC
150b
Culture of Consumption
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Examines the historical development and social significance of a culture of consumption. Considers the role of marketing in contemporary society and the expression of consumer culture in various realms of everyday life, including leisure, the family, and education. Usually offered every year.Ms. Miller

SOC
193a
Environment, Health, and Society
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This course draws on sociological perspectives to examine two key questions: (1) How does social organization enter into the production of environmental health and illness? and (2) How do scientists, regulators, social movement activists, and people affected by illness seek to understand, regulate, and intervene in relationships between the environment and human health? Usually offered every second year.Ms. Shostak

THA
138a
The Business of Show Business
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Provides students with an overview of the many different facets of what it takes to produce live theater in America today. With an emphasis on non-profit theater, students will learn about organizational structure, aesthetic and artistic goals, facilities management, budgeting and revenue streams, public relations/marketing/advertising and communication. From brainstorming to barnstorming, this course will give students the step-by-step process of delivering live, professional theater. Usually offered every second year.Mr. Walsh

THA
138aj
The Business of Show Business
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Provides students with an in-depth, engaging investigation of the many different facets of what is necessary to produce live entertainment in America today and gives them the unique opportunity to explore local for-profit and non-profit arts companies as a lens through which to view the world of business on a macro level. Students will learn about organizational structure, aesthetic and artistic goals, facilities management, budgeting and revenue streams, public relations/marketing/advertising and communication as it relates to both for-profit and non-profit arts companies. From brainstorming to barnstorming, this course will give students the step-by-step process of delivering live, professional entertainment. Provides the practical context for students to actively employ the skills they are learning in the concurrent sections of this program. Offered as part of JBS program.Mr. Hinson, Mr. Jacobs, and Mr. Walsh

WMGS
152a
Women as Leaders in the Business Realm
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Considers why women and men start their professions with the same level of intelligence, education and commitment but relatively few women reach the top echelons of the business world. We will examine which women do reach the top, and why. Usually taught every second year.Ms. Shavarini

BUS
114a
Managerial Accounting
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Prerequisite: BUS 6a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 14a in prior years.Introduction to the principles, concepts, and methods of managerial accounting, including internal reporting used in planning, control, and decision making. Learn how organizations use this information to measure and control resources used in producing goods and providing services. Usually offered every year.Ms. Weihs

BUS
130a
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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Prerequisite: BUS 10a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 30a in prior years.Explores why, when, and how to start a new business venture. Includes identifying opportunities, gaining access to resources, and assembling a team with key skills. Uses lectures, case discussions, and outside speakers to introduce issues in both theory and practice. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Reed

BUS
135a
Real Estate and Society
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Prerequisite: BUS 10a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 35a in prior years.Provides students with the fundamentals of real estate investment analysis and examines major trends and current issues: affordable housing; preservations, conservation, and environmentalism; green construction; new urbanism and smart growth; and the meltdown in the capital markets. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Harrity and Ms. Stoller

BUS
137a
Real Estate Finance
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Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Examines real estate finance from the perspective of the users of capital (developers and property owners) and the sources of capital (lenders and equity investors). Also considers the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes by offering various kinds of subsidies to developers, and evaluating the relative success of such programs. Usually offered every third year.Staff

BUS
137aj
Real Estate Finance
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Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Examines real estate finance from the perspective of the users of capital (developers and property owners) and the sources of capital (lenders and equity investors). Also considers the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes by offering various kinds of subsidies to developers, and evaluating the relative success of such programs. Offered as part of JBS program.Staff

BUS
138a
Real Estate Development
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Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Focuses on the real estate development process, including zoning and planning, permitting, site analysis and acquisition, design and construction, financing, leasing, and value enhancement. Also considers the role of the community and regulators in supporting or objecting to a real estate project; and, the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes. Usually offered every third year.Staff

BUS
138aj
Real Estate Development
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Prerequisite: BUS 135a.Focuses on the real estate development process, including zoning and planning, permitting, site analysis and acquisition, design and construction, financing, leasing, and value enhancement. Also considers the role of the community and regulators in supporting or objecting to a real estate project; and, the role of the public sector in using tax payer funds to advance public purposes. Offered as part of JBS program.Staff

BUS
153a
Marketing Research
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Prerequisite: BUS 152a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 53a in prior years.Marketing research is critical to business success in today's information economy. We will learn quantitative marketing research models and techniques for analyzing consumer behavior and marketing information. Topics include marketing segmentation, targeted promotion strategies, brand positioning, new produce design, and customer profitability. Usually offered every year.Ms. Ebert

BUS
154aj
Branding Strategy
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Prerequisite: BUS 152a. Learn about the strategies marketers use to build and sustain brands that consumers truly value. Some of the brands we’ll cover include: Lady Gaga, IKEA, Pokémon and Vans. You will also compete in online, team-based marketing simulation game to give you the feel of a real-world branding experience. Offered as part of JBS program.Ms. Zimmerman

BUS
155a
Consumer Behavior
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Prerequisite: BUS 152a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 55a in prior years.Examines fundamental theories and concepts in consumer psychology. Learn about new findings to enhance understanding of how and why people choose, use and evaluate goods and services the way they do. This knowledge will come from lectures, readings, and discussions in class, but also from hands-on experiential learning through involvement in a semester-long group project. Usually offered every year.Ms. Ebert

BUS
160a
Competitive Strategy
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Prerequisite: BUS 10a. BUS 152a is recommended.Allows students to examine the challenges and opportunities of doing business globally using a few simple frameworks developed at Harvard Business School. Students will use such frameworks to think about the design and execution of successful strategies, in the US market, in emerging markets, in entrepreneurial firms and in social platforms. Usually offered every year.Mr. Musacchio

BUS
170a
Business in the Global Economy
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Prerequisite: BUS 10a. May not be taken for credit by students who took BUS 70a in prior years.Modern firms frequently cross national borders to find new markets and resources. Their strategies are then shaped by the international economy and by the policies of national governments. Using case discussion, students explore why and how U.S., Japanese, and European firms operate outside their home countries. Usually offered every second year.Staff

BUS
172a
Operations Management
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Prerequisites: BUS 10a. Corequisite: BUS 1b.Operations Management is the scientific study and optimization of the processes that organizations use to create the products/services purchased by their customers. Topics include process analysis, the impact of variability on process performance, quality management (lean production and six sigma), project management, inventory management, supply chain coordination, revenue management and operations strategy. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Strauss

BUS
174a
Supply Chain Management
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Prerequisite: BUS 172a.Explores how to optimize supply chain processes to achieve a company's strategic goals. Students will understand the basic activities in an organization's supply chain, such as planning, the selection of suppliers, negotiations and coordination with suppliers, production and inventory decisions, and logistics. This course uses analytical tools and conceptual frameworks to make effective decisions about supply chains. Usually offered every second year.Staff

BUS
195a
Field Projects in Business
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Provides students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge to solving actual client problems, assessing client challenges and opportunities and generally adding value to the client's operations. The course culminates in a final client presentation before the semester ends. The instructor will serve as project manager for all projects. Usually offered every third year.Ms. Zimmerman

BUS
195aj
Field Projects
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Prerequisite: BUS 152a. Enhance your resume with real, hands-on marketing experience. Spend four weeks applying your marketing skills and knowledge to solving actual client problems in a team-based consulting project for a local company. These high quality marketing projects, sourced and mentored by the professor, serve a variety of companies, from marketing agencies to Fortune 500 and start-up companies. Projects culminate in client presentations. Offered as part of JBS program.Ms. Zimmerman

ECON
141b
Economics of Innovation
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Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.Studies the innovation and technological change as the central focus of modern economies. Topics include the sources of growth, economics of research and development, innovation, diffusion and technology transfer, appropriability, patents, information markets, productivity, institutional innovation, and global competitiveness. Usually offered every year.Mr. Jefferson

ECON
161a
International Macroeconomics and Finance
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Prerequisites: ECON 82b. Corequisite: ECON 184b or permission of the instructor.Applications of international economic theory – regarding trade, the balance of payments, investments, and exchange rates – to the management of import/export firms and multinational corporations. Usually offered every year.Ms. Mann

ECON
172b
Money and Banking
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Prerequisites: ECON 82b and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor. Examines the relationship of the financial system to real economic activity, focusing especially on banks and central banks. Topics include the monetary and payments systems; financial instruments and their pricing; the structure, management, and regulation of bank and nonbank financial intermediaries and the design and operations of central banks in a modern economy. Usually offered every year.Mr. Redenius

LGLS
189a
Business Law
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May not be taken for credit by students who took AMST 189a in prior years.Surveys core legal institutions of property, contracts, and corporations. Examines how law promotes and restrains the development of capitalism and market society in America, from the era of mass production through the age of global trade and digital commerce. Usually offered every year.Mr. Breen

Business: Independent Instructional Courses

BUS
89a
Work in the Global Business Environment: Internship and Seminar
Does not meet the requirements for the major or minor in Business.Normally students arrange an internship placement prior to registration and the internship is concurrent with the seminar. Students wishing to fulfill the internship component during the summer must obtain approval from the instructor prior to the internship and then enroll in the following fall (or spring) semester. The course will meet every other week and a structured journal documenting the internship experience is required as a basis for seminar participation. The course encourages students to pool experiences and lessons drawn from various business environments and to analyze and discuss them in the context of related readings. Usually offered every semester.Mr. Suderow

BUS
98a
Independent Study
Does not meet the requirements for the major or minor in Business.Normally available for a student who has taken a course and wishes to pursue further reading or research in that field or study a subject not listed among the department course offerings. Usually offered every year.Staff

BUS
98b
Independent Study
Signature of the instructor required.Normally available for a student who has taken a course and wishes to pursue further reading or research in that field or study a subject not listed among the department course offerings. Usually offered every year.Staff